Innovation, Growth and Inclusion: Matt Bland on the Future of Credit Unions

Friday 27 February 2026

In a new video interview conducted by ROAR Media, Chief Executive of ABCUL, Matt Bland underscored that credit unions in Great Britain continue to evolve to meet modern financial challenges – particularly in driving greater financial inclusion.

Reflecting on the sector’s development over the past two decades, Matt highlighted the progress credit unions have made in building scale and resilience. While the number of individual organisations has reduced through strategic mergers, overall membership has grown significantly – a shift he suggested has strengthened governance, improved operational efficiency and positioned the movement for long-term sustainability.

“Credit unions have a proud legacy of supporting people through tough times,” Matt said, emphasising that the sector’s social purpose remains central to its identity. At the same time, he stressed the importance of innovation and collaboration in ensuring that credit unions remain competitive and relevant in a fast-changing financial services landscape.

A key theme of the discussion was modernisation. Matt pointed to digital transformation, shared services and fintech partnerships as critical drivers of future growth. “With the right vision and investment, credit unions can be at the forefront of inclusive, ethical finance in Great Britain,” he added, arguing that collaboration across the movement will be essential to achieving economies of scale while maintaining strong member relationships.

Matt also addressed the continued challenge of financial vulnerability, highlighting the distinctive credit union approach of combining affordable lending with structured savings. By encouraging members to save while borrowing, credit unions help build longer-term financial resilience rather than offering short-term fixes. In a climate where many households lack even modest savings buffers, Matt reiterated that community-based financial services have a crucial role to play.

Looking ahead, Matt pointed to several significant developments for the sector to watch closely. Chief among them is the Treasury’s ongoing review of credit union regulation as part of the Government’s wider Financial Inclusion Strategy – a process he described as a major opportunity to modernise the framework and unlock future growth. He also highlighted the £30 million Transformation Fund commitment from Fair4All Finance, noting that while the sector is “at the beginning of this process”, it represents a genuinely exciting opportunity to invest in digital capability, scale and collaboration. Matt continued to state the positive and constructive engagement with Government, adding that there is clear enthusiasm to see the credit union sector grow and succeed. In addition, he flagged important news closer to home: ABCUL itself is undergoing a rebrand, with the new identity set to be unveiled at the organisation’s Member Event on 14 April — signalling a fresh chapter for the trade body alongside wider sector transformation.

To hear Matt’s insights in full and explore the future direction of the movement, watch the interview on the ROAR Media website.